Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1887-06-09
SET IN DIAMONDS.
BY Charlotte NJ. Braeme.
CHAPTER XX-CoNrINuED.


He looked at her in surprise. He
was tired and hungry; all the way home
he had been thinking of Marguerite,
and when he looked at his sister wait
ing there to speak to him, his first
words were:
Nv here is Marguerite?"
at is OF Marguerite | wish to speak,"
she replied. "She is in her room, be-
leve. | wish to speak to you before
you see her, Douglas"
"Some tiresome woman's quarrel, !"
he thought TO himself, as in an impa-
tient tone of voice, lie said Il hope they
will be punctuai with dinner to-day;
the wind is cold, and am very hungry.
Can you not wait till after dinner,
Thamer!"
Il think it ofthe greatest consequence
that you should know at once" said
Lady Perth. Il should not like the
re sponsibility of keeping the truth
from yOI one moment longer than is
necessary"
Without another word Lord Stair led
the way TO the library, and Lady Perth
followe him.
rhe lamps were lighted and the fire
burned brightly; Lord Stair held his
hands over the blaze.
ut is not oiten.' he said, that feel
the cold so terribly. Outide the
weather is terrible, and it is as dark as
possible" lie shivered as he spoke.
"A hard night for al poor Travellers"
he said. Now, Thamer, what is it,"
IL have something most painful to
tell you. Douglas. | will be brief.
| do not wish to put you to more shame
IL n nj
For some time past have had my own
ideas and thoughts about your wife and
Captain Este" she stopped abruptly
for Lord Stair held up his hand with
gesture of authority.
Il will rot hear one word against my
dear and beautiful young wife," he
said-'not one single word"
"lou will change your mind when
you hear-not what | have suspected,
but what l have absolutely seen and
heard,n said Lady Perth. and then,
with some painted additions of her own,
she told him al that she had seen and
heard by the Herons' Pool.
Il repeat" she said, that | saw
your wife fling her arms around Darcy's
neck; that they kissed each other with
passionate tears and passionate kisses;
that she buried her face on his breast
and wept without restraint. | saw her
when he was going away, when he
had left her-fall with her face on the
ground, and weep as every womal
weeps when she parts with her best
beloved"
"Poor child" said Lord Stair, in a
voice full ofcompassi n. He looked q
little pale AMI startled, but there were
depths of loyalty in that noble heart
of his none C IL Il fathon.
Poor child he repeated, with even
greater pity and tenderness.
Lady Perth looked at him in wonder
and dismay.
"Poor-what. " she cried. "Do /
hear aright-do you mean that you
pity her, a sh Imeless-"
flush" he interrupted, sternly.
~ forbid you II speak OF her in that
fashion You say they parted-that
they babe each other farewell; if she
had gone with him, if he had remained
with her. you might have suspected
something. They have parted. you
saw. and forever, what can be wrong?
They had a great and kindly affection
for each other. they were doubtless
grieved to part; see no harm in tn IT."
Lady Perth had turned pale with
wonder and rage. She had never
dreamed her brother would take the
matter in this fashion; she hal felt 50
sure that lie won d adopt her view, that
he would believe her guilty and discard
her that she was bewiIdered by her own
failure She trembled with rage.
How blind and foolish you are.
Douglas" she cried. "ls there ever
a fina'e wi hout beginning? If this
- INT
do Won think the course OF il has een?"
II think NJ evil" sal Lord Stair.
"Thamer, when [ married Marguerite
Marine, she was child. and her soul
was as white and stainless as the leaf
of white lily: do you wish me to be-
lieve that Il few months have chang ID
that guile ess child into a guilty, shame
less woman? Nonsense, YOU may as
well tell me that the sun sets IN the east.
| do not believe one word of it,"
"But ] saw it," she cried, trembling
with rage. II saw it myself"
"You exagerate even what you saw.
prefer to believe in my wife! My
wife is to me the fairest' the dearest,
and the most spotless of womcn
refuse to believe, and decline resolute-
ly to hear one word against her. IL
this was all you had to say to me,
Thamer you may consideri it all unsaid.
There is nothing in IT,. We Stairs are
all proud and cold: we are not given
to afiectionate demonstrations. Mar
guerite is most loving and tender of
heart. Tears and kisses mean anything
but guilt from her."
II have not seen her so loving and
demonstrative with you" sneered Lady
Perth.
Then it is my own fault!" said the
loyal gentleman. "Heaven bless her!
She has been, am sure true wife to
me-"
"You must please yourself" said
Lady Perth. 81 have doue my duty.
I have told you what saw and heard;
could tell YOU more. Since you de-
cline to hear it, it Is useless. One
thing is quite certain" she continued;
'you may think little OF dishonor-I
do not. If that woman remains in the
house | shall not. She has lost her
character in my eyes, and [ shall not
remain under the same roof with her."
Lord Stair laughed scornfully.
my dear Thamer," he replied; "you
can most certainly please yourself. My
wife will never leave my roof. | won